Emergent Phenomena in Science and Everyday Life
Explore complex systems and emergent behaviors in science and daily life. Discover how simple components create unexpected outcomes.
Explore complex systems and emergent behaviors in science and daily life. Discover how simple components create unexpected outcomes.
This course delves into the fascinating world of emergent phenomena, where complex behaviors arise from simple components interacting in unexpected ways. Students will explore how emergence challenges reductionist approaches in science and affects our understanding of various systems. The course covers a wide range of topics, including complex fluids, chaotic dynamics, pattern formation in biology, quantum mechanics, and consciousness. Through diverse examples from materials science, mathematics, biology, physics, and neuroscience, learners will gain insights into how ordinary components can collectively yield surprising behaviors. The curriculum is designed to help students differentiate between emergent and reductive approaches to science, understand the importance of scale in analyzing phenomena, and recognize general principles that explain emergent behaviors. By the end of the course, participants will be able to discuss various examples of emergent phenomena and explain why they are classified as such, providing a new perspective on complex systems in both scientific and everyday contexts.
4.3
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What you'll learn
Explain the difference between emergent and reductive approaches to science
Describe how the scale of observation affects the analysis and understanding of phenomena
Discuss examples of emergent phenomena and explain their classification
Understand the principles of chaotic dynamics and their role in apparent randomness
Explore pattern formation in biological systems and reaction-diffusion interactions
Examine quantum coherence and its implications for emergent behaviors
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
12 Hours PreRecorded video
5 assignments
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FullTime access
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There are 6 modules in this course
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of emergent phenomena, bridging the gap between scientific disciplines and everyday observations. It begins by introducing the concept of emergence and how it challenges traditional reductionist approaches in science. The curriculum is structured into six modules, each focusing on a different aspect of emergent phenomena. Students will investigate the mystery of foam and complex fluids, delve into chaotic dynamics and fractals, explore pattern formation in biology, examine quantum coherence and many-body states, and finally, tackle the emergence of consciousness. Throughout the course, learners will engage with real-world examples and cutting-edge research, gaining a deeper understanding of how simple components can give rise to complex, often unexpected behaviors. The interdisciplinary nature of the course encourages students to think across traditional boundaries, fostering a holistic view of scientific phenomena. By the end of the course, participants will have developed a new perspective on complexity in both scientific and everyday contexts, equipped with the tools to recognize and analyze emergent phenomena in various fields.
Welcome - Let's Get Started
Module 1 · 35 Minutes to complete
The Mystery of Foam
Module 2 · 2 Hours to complete
Chaotic Dynamics
Module 3 · 2 Hours to complete
Pattern Formation and Systems Biology
Module 4 · 2 Hours to complete
Quantum Coherence, Many-Body States, and Quantum Computing
Module 5 · 1 Hours to complete
Consciousness
Module 6 · 2 Hours to complete
Fee Structure
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Instructors
Lecturer and Researcher at UC Irvine Specializing in Learning, Memory, and Biological Sciences
Andrea Nicholas is a Lecturer with Potential Security of Employment (PSOE) in the UC Irvine School of Biological Sciences. She has extensive teaching experience covering topics such as drugs and the brain, stress, mood disorders, and the influence of media on behavior. Her research interests focus on learning and memory processes in relation to teaching methodologies. Andrea has published works on innovative teaching strategies, including a game-based approach for undergraduate biology majors studying cholera outbreaks and research on the effects of stress on the adult hippocampus.
UCI Distinguished Professor Bridging Economics, Mathematics, and Behavioral Sciences
Donald J. Saari is a Distinguished Professor of Economics and Mathematics at the University of California, Irvine, where he also directs the Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences. His research primarily focuses on mathematical astronomy, particularly chaotic dynamics, which originated in the late 1800s to explain unexpected behaviors in the Newtonian three-body problem. Saari's work encompasses a wide range of topics, including the evolution of the universe, singularities, collisions, and dark matter. After moving from Northwestern University in 2000, he expanded his research interests to include the dynamics of social and behavioral sciences, revealing complexities that can surpass those found in physical sciences.
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4.3 course rating
144 ratings
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